Man, 30, dies of gunshot wounds in north end
Children on their way to school had to duck under police tape Friday morning after police blocked off an area in north Edmonton to investigate the suspicious death of a man.
Homicide detectives believe the 30-year-old victim died in the Eaux Claires neighbourhood from gunshot wounds.
City police received several calls about alleged shots fired and a man in distress early Friday, police spokesman Scott Pattison said.
Officers who went to the area of 164th Avenue and 87th Street at about 3:20 a.m. discovered the dead man on the front steps of a nearby residence.
Jane Sterling, a spokeswoman for Edmonton Public Schools, said Florence Hallock elementary junior high school remained open Friday, but it took more time for students to arrive due to the police investigation.
Yellow police tape surrounded the school’s parking lot, while staff in fluorescent vests helped direct traffic around several closed roads.
“It was a little late to start this morning, but we’re making sure everything is as normal as possible at the school and we’re letting the police do their jobs,” Sterling said.
The school has 720 students in kindergarten through Grade 9.
Detectives were seen walking door to door in the area and police cruisers blocked roads on 88th Street at 164th Avenue and 162nd Avenue at 84th Street. The roads were expected to reopen Friday evening.
When Lyndee Ehl drove her eight-year-old daughter to school Friday morning and saw the police presence outside, she initially thought something had happened at the school.
“I feel uneasy. Yes, there are police here, but the kids still have to go out and play,” Ehl said. “It happened so close to the school.”
Edidha Villarojo was surprised to find police tape surrounding her street in the Belle Rive neighbourhood.
“Our neighbourhood is very quiet,” she said. “I thought they were here for speeding, because cars go through here very fast. But that’s it, there’s been no crime like this before. It’s a bit scary.”
In a news release, Staff Sgt. Bill Clark said the neighbours in the area have been “extremely co-operative,” but police had no suspects.
“We would encourage anyone else who might have seen or heard something in the early hours this morning to contact police,” Clark said.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m.
If this death is ruled a homicide, it will be the city’s 19th so far this year.